Safe Abortion

Termination of pregnancy, or abortion, (up to 20 weeks) is your legal right. Be sure to choose a safe, legal provider.

We offer safe abortion (also called Termination of Pregnancy or TOP) for women who are up to 20 weeks pregnant. Depending on the gestation (stage of the pregnancy), we have two services available: the Marie Stopes Medical Process (often called the abortion pill) and the Marie Stopes Procedure (a minor, same day treatment).

Our nurses and doctors are accredited professionals and experts in reproductive healthcare. Our work is strictly governed the Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act (amended 2008) and we adhere to World Health Organisation Guidelines and protocols set out by Marie Stopes International.

View Our Safe Abortion Guide

Marie Stopes has 14 centres across South Africa, to make an appointment for a safe abortion book online or call us on 0800 11 77 85.

We know that an unplanned pregnancy can be stressful and that having an abortion raises a lot of questions. We’ve tried to answer as many of them below in our Frequently Asked Questions section but if there’s something we missed give us a call on 0800 11 77 85 or ask us a question.

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Safe Abortion FAQ

You have three options when facing an unplanned pregnancy. You can carry the pregnancy to term and raise a child yourself; you can continue with the pregnancy and place the child for adoption or in foster care or you can choose to have an abortion to terminate the pregnancy. It’s important that you take the time to consider all of your options and discuss the issue with your partner, a friend or a family member (if you feel safe and comfortable doing so). Ultimately the decision of whether or not to continue with the pregnancy should be yours.

If you choose to have an abortion, ensure you choose a safe and legal provider like us, Marie Stopes South Africa, as there are many unsafe, backstreet abortion providers out there. Coming to our centres is easy, you just need to book an appointment online or call us on 0800 11 77 85. Our team will tell you what to expect and let you know what plans to make for the day of your appointment.

The Choice on Termination of Pregnancy Act states that a women can have an abortion at any age- you should never be denied the service because of your age. If you’re young we advise you to chat to a trusted adult (a parent, aunt or teacher) and ask someone to accompany you to the centre for your appointment, but this is not required.

Yes, we can assist women from anywhere in the world. If you are travelling from another country we may not be able to provide you with the option of the Marie Stopes Medical Process as in requires an in-country follow up appointment after 3 weeks.

You will have a consultation with a nurse who will explain your options to you. She or he will take your medical history, it is important to be honest and disclose a full history, your confidentiality is assured. She or he will then perform a physical examination, including a vaginal exam to determine the stage of your pregnancy. This may include an abdominal ultrasound/scan.

If you are more than 12 weeks pregnant your procedure will need to be performed by a doctor. We may need to book an appointment for you to return on a separate day, depending on the doctor’s availability.

Before 4 weeks a pregnancy can be difficult to detect on a scan or by doing a physical exam. Sometimes even at 4 or 5 weeks a pregnancy can be too small to detect on a scan and you may be asked to rebook and visit the centre in another week. This is for your safety.

The law which governs abortion in South Africa restricts procedures at 20 weeks except in some cases where there is a threat to the woman’s health. Marie Stopes South Africa is only designated to provide abortion services up to 20 weeks.

Marie Stopes Medical Process abortion, sometimes referred to as the abortion pill, uses pills/tablets to terminate a pregnancy. The first set of tablets is taken orally in the clinic and the second set is taken later at home. Early surgical abortion (4-12 weeks) involves a gentle suction method, which the nurse will use to remove the pregnancy from the uterus. This is a very quick and simple procedure that takes less than 5 minutes. The Surgical abortion (12- 20 weeks) is a surgical procedure where the pregnancy is removed vaginally it is performed by a doctor.

Neither option is better than the other- it’s a question of both personal choice and medical history that will determine the method that is best for you. Some women say they prefer to finish the procedure in one day, others feel that the medical process more suits their lifestyle. A nurse will provide all the details to help you decide during your consultation.

On the day of your appointment one of our supportive nurses will offer you a consultation session, including a physical exam. Once the stage of your pregnancy is confirmed you’ll be asked some questions about your medical history- it’s important to provide all of the relevant information requested (i.e. if you have a blood disorder like anemia or deep vein thrombosis).

One of the Marie Stopes staff will be talking to you to comfort you and relieve pain without medication during the procedure. This is called the Vocal Local method. Some of our centres also have an option called conscious sedation which makes you sleep during the procedure.

Conscious sedation is available at selected Marie Stopes centres. It is a form of anesthetic that allows you to feel sleepy and relax or fall asleep during the procedure. If you decide to opt for sedation its important to let us know when you make your booking so that we schedule you on the appropriate time and date. You will also receive a set of fasting guidelines to follow, so you know when to stop eating and drinking.

In around 1% of medical processes the pregnancy may continue even after taking the medication. If you have continued symptoms of pregnancy such as nausea, vomiting or breast tenderness you should contact our Client Services centre. A positive pregnancy test 2 to 3 weeks after your process began does not indicate a continued pregnancy. This may just be caused by the pregnancy hormones still in your system. If the pregnancy is continuing after the Marie Stopes Medical Process we will perform the Marie Stopes Surgical Procedure at our centre at no cost to you.

You can conceive again as early as one week after an abortion so it’s important to talk to a nurse about a contraceptive method that’s right for you. We have a wide range of contraceptive and family planning methods available for you to choose from.

If you opt for the Marie Stopes Procedure you do not need to come back to the centre unless you have a question or would like another service. If you choose the Marie Stopes Medical Process you will need to come for a follow up visit 3 weeks later. Call us on 0800 11 77 85 or make a booking for your follow up.

In around 1% of medical processes the pregnancy may continue even after taking the medication. If you have continued symptoms of pregnancy such as nausea, vomiting or breast tenderness you should contact our Client Services centre. A positive pregnancy test 2 to 3 weeks after your process began does not indicate a continued pregnancy. This may just be caused by the pregnancy hormones still in your system. If the pregnancy is continuing after the Marie Stopes Medical Process we will perform the Marie Stopes Surgical Procedure at our centre at no cost to you.

Because we do not have triage facilities if you are already in the process of an abortion we recommend you present yourself at your nearest hospital for treatment. If you have purchased “abortion pills” from someone who is not a designated provider do NOT consume the medication. Call us on 0800 11 77 85 to book a safe abortion.

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